Signal No. 3 up over Batanes, parts of Babuyan Islands due to Goring

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is raised over Batanes and portions of Babuyan Islands as Super Typhoon Goring left the Balintang Channel and moved toward the northern part of West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said wind signals are hoisted in the following areas:

TCWS No. 3

• Batanes
• the northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Calayan Is., and Dalupiri Is.)

TCWS No. 2

• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos)
• the extreme northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Pamplona, Abulug)

TCWS No. 1

• the northern and central portions of Cagayan (Solana, Tuao, Iguig, Amulung, Santo Niño, Piat, Rizal, Lasam, Gattaran, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Baggao, Alcala, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Allacapan, Ballesteros)
• Apayao
• the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk)
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Lacub, Malibcong, San Juan, Danglas, La Paz, Dolores, Bangued, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• the extreme northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal)

According to the latest PAGASA bulletin, Goring was located 90 kilometers west southwest of Basco, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 195 km per hour and gustiness of up to 240 km/h.

The super typhoon was moving west northwestward at 15 km/h, PAGASA said.

According to the state weather bureau, Goring will likely remain a super typhoon until Friday.

Over 200 milliliters of forecast accumulated rainfall is expected in the southern portion of Batanes and the northwestern portions of Babuyan Islands on Wednesday.

Around 100 to 200 mm of accumulated rainfall may be experienced in Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Apayao, the extreme northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Meanwhile, around 50 to 100 mm of accumulated rainfall is expected in Ilocos Sur, Abra, the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the rest of Apayao.

“Forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas,” PAGASA said.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” it added.

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will also bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days, PAGASA said.

Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds may be experienced within areas under TCWS No. 3, minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds in TCWS No. 2 areas, and minimal to minor impacts from strong winds in TCWS No. 1 areas.

Habagat will cause gusty conditions over Ilocos, Cordillera, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas on Wednesday.

Due to the moderate to high risk of storm surge, PAGASA warned of possible flooding in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of Batanes and the northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands.

A gale warning is in effect for most seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. PAGASA said, “Disruption in civilian maritime activities is expected over these areas.”

The inclement weather from Goring and Habagat has prompted airport authorities to cancel several domestic flights for the day.

In its latest report on Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said one person was reported missing in Western Visayas due to Goring, although this information is still subject for validation.

The NDRRMC also said 196,926 people or 56,410 families were affected by Goring in 832 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Cordillera.

Of the affected population, the NDRRMC said 35,095 persons or 9,608 families were staying inside 376 evacuation centers while 13,902 people or 3,407 families were taking shelter in other places.

The NDRRMC said 134 houses were reported damaged — 82 partially and 52 totally.

Damage to infrastructure worth P41,175,000 was reported in Cagayan, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Cordillera.

Goring is seen to track a mainly northwestward or west northwestward path across the Luzon Strait from Wednesday morning until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, PAGASA said.  —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News